"Butterscotch is the FurReal pony, so it does make a pony noise and then it walks as well. Little girls are very excited about having their own pony," says Superior Target's Executive Team Lead Tara Posterick.

But rag dolls are still in, says Posterick, as long as they're colorful, collectable, and come with their own pets, like MGA Entertainment's Lalaloopsy dolls, which have been called the new Tickle Me Elmo.

"The entire collection of those has been extremely popular this year," said Posterick.

And while Mattel's Barbie is still popular with girls, they've had to make room for the trendiest new doll with some spooky spunk: Ghoulia Yelps, Frankie Stein, and the rest of the girls at Monster High, also from Mattel.

"It gives Barbie a little bit of spunk—they have a little edge to them," said Posterick.

But one talkative little guy that was in top demand on Christmas lists in the late 90s is back in full force to re–introduce us to his Furbish dailect.

"Furbys are like the Gigapets. So, there are new, colorful ones—not like the original Furbys. There's red and yellow, which have made it more exciting for kids to purchase," Posterick.

And one old favorite hasn't gone anywhere from its top spot on boys' Christmas lists. If anything, the Lego universe has only been growing in popularity and possibilities.

"Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, you name it—we have a lego toy for whatever the little boy's interest is," said store Team Leader Lisa Piekerski.

As far as the latest craze in boy's toys goes, Piekerski says Hasbro's high–octane, customizable world of BeyWheelz take the cake: "This is the item that they're asking for, so it's definitely be one of our top toys of the season.

But Piekerski says a growing surge in demand has come from educational toys, like LeapFrog Enterprises brand items which basically put the fun back in things as essential as reading.

"There's been increase focus on education, especially children starting at a younger age. So, these interactive learning toys are perfect, especially for the child who has every toy in the world," said Piekerski.

...blurring the lines between fun and learning—something every parent can get on board with.